Fahey: The Storybook Shoppe in Bluffton to have new ownership

The Storybook Shoppe, at 41 Calhoun St., Unit A, will be owned and operated by Beaufort resident Sally Sue Lavigne starting Jan. 23. The children's book store opened in its original Habersham location in 2009 before moving to Bluffton in late 2010.

Beautre is retiring to Asheville, N.C.

Although Lavigne has never owned a business before, she is a self-described "avid reader" and said she frequently visited the Habersham location when her two kids, now in college, were reading children's books.

Locally owned bookshops -- especially niche ones like children's bookstores -- are becoming more of a novelty among bookstore chains and soaring e-commerce sales.

Lavigne said the store's prime location and steady stream of Lowcountry visitors helps bolster The Storybook Shoppe's business -- but she believes the staff is what sets the store apart.

"We know the books," she said. "We can give recommendations. We are people who love books and who read children's books."

Lavigne plans to make a couple of tweaks -- including daily Instagram posts, a new rewards program and expanding the store's service discounts -- but the business will largely stay the same.

Lavigne is also soliciting feedback from customers to add to current inventory, including expanded reach to middle- and high-school-aged readers.

"I'm excited and terrified at the same time," Lavigne admitted.

Details: 843-757-2600

Follow reporter Ashley Fahey on Twitter at twitter.com/IPBG_Ashley.

This story was originally published January 21, 2016 at 5:29 PM with the headline "Fahey: The Storybook Shoppe in Bluffton to have new ownership."